Yet More Instant Science Lessons: Flight!

It looks like families want more instant science lessons.  I get it.  Our Co-op is full of large families.  (We’re Roman Catholic.)  There you are at home with five or six kiddos, the oldest is ten, and you are expecting another baby.  Somehow you manage the basics: reading, composition and grammar, history, and math.  Science just seems to be a bridge too far.  Pick a theme—one even the baby will like!  This time the theme is flight.  Trust me.  If you have things flying all over the room, even the baby will be entertained.  Now is the time to squeeze in some science before you resume lessons!

Start with a Book has DIY Science Camp: Flight.  Here is the sample schedule, which you can spread over four or five Friday Fundays.  One activity, Rotocopters, is the one I would do first.  Whenever we do a morning of flight at Science Camp, this is my starter activity.  Look at all of the books!  Really, any pile of library books about flight—including the history of flight work well.  Plan to read after lunch during quiet time.

If you want to keep up this theme for a while, lean on NASA.  Here are paper airplane templates.  Here are NASA videos demonstrating how to fold airplanes.  (Rob and I are kind of inept when it comes to folding airplanes.) we typically start with these basic plans.  I like to buy flying toys, especially hand-copters!  Wear safety glasses!  Have a blast!